Everything and The Kitchen Island. Islands denote isolation, being cut off from others. Not so in the kitchen where the island has become the place where the family and invited guests gather. Designers are responding to demands of increased seating, a larger number of electrical outlets and more storage. By equipping kitchen islands with under-the-counter appliances and electronic controls, these areas can now function as entertainment hubs, homework centers, and charging stations.

The addition of an elevated bar top to a kitchen island adds more function and an added degree of visual interest. Often the bar surface can be a different material than island work surface. For example, the island could be granite and the bar top hardwood - a stunning combination.